|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,911 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,911 Likes: 2 |
OK guys, if you were gonna build or buy a short action rifle (Not WSM) to primarily hunt Mule Deer/White Tail deer with shots topping out at 400 yards, what caliber would you choose and why??? I've run the WSM course and just don't feel I need the added recoil. I'm thinking an accurate, relatively light, short action rifle is the optimal package. Given these parameters, what caliber would you choose??
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643 |
.308 Winchester running 165's.308's are usually goofy accurate. I really like 165's or 150's but you can run 130's up to the 208's and break shoulders on any deer or elk if needed. Recoil won't send you to the physical therapist. Ammo is found anywhere. Brass is easy to come by. They feed like a fat boy at a buffet. Whats not to love This whole rig came from the "Campfire" classifieds except the bare action and recoil lug
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,076
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,076 |
6.5-284, 284, 7mm-08, 260 and 308 would be my choices in about that order.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,311
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,311 |
x2 on the 308 because it just works!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,468
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,468 |
hey gunnut that is a sweet package. Whose barrel and what contour is that?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 19,179
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 19,179 |
6.5-284, 284, 7mm-08, 260 and 308 would be my choices in about that order. I have no mule deer experience but wt. I would choose 284Win and not to be smart but I feel the reasons are obvious. The 6.5-284 is purely a wildcat and case working is involved. The 284 is simple and effective. IMO.
jwall- *** 3100 guy***
A Flat Trajectory is Never a Handicap
Speed is Trajectory's Friend !!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,109
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,109 |
George Associate Gypsy Order of Sleepless Knights ... That is when I carried you ...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643 |
Redneck (Lee) put that one together. Its a 21" Pac-Nor thats Remington taper to .670 at the business end.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,076
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,076 |
6.5-284, 284, 7mm-08, 260 and 308 would be my choices in about that order. I have no mule deer experience but wt. I would choose 284Win and not to be smart but I feel the reasons are obvious. The 6.5-284 is purely a wildcat and case working is involved. The 284 is simple and effective. IMO. Actually lapua makes 6.5-284 brass that is so good people have been necking it up to use in their 284
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,468
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,468 |
Redneck (Lee) put that one together. Its a 21" Pac-Nor thats Remington taper to .670 at the business end. well done
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643 |
Thanks! Its one of my favorites
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,216
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,216 |
gunnut308 nailed it - .308 Win, 165 grain - boattails for the long shots if your rifle likes them.
I moved up to 165 gr after having some 150 gr fail to exit on large whitetails - the 165s go right on through: two holes = better blood trail.
I'm using a Kimber 84M Montana, .308, Leupold 2x7, Kimber bases - very light, accurate, versatile - but have been hunting in Adirondacks so no 400 yd shots! you might want something with a little heavier barrel if you want to go out that far.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,759
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,759 |
Without question .308 Win and it's not even close..........Hb
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1 |
260 due to its great ballistic coefficient
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,401
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,401 |
“There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” ALDO LEOPOLD
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277 |
.308 Winchester running 165's.308's are usually goofy accurate. I really like 165's or 150's but you can run 130's up to the 208's and break shoulders on any deer or elk if needed. Recoil won't send you to the physical therapist. Ammo is found anywhere. Brass is easy to come by. They feed like a fat boy at a buffet. Whats not to love Not a thing mo need be said... Dober
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,516 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,516 Likes: 1 |
.243, .25-06, or .260 Then again, I only have experience with our puny AB deer...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277 |
Guppy venado... Dober
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,314
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,314 |
Me too, then 260, then 308.....but I really like them all and there isn't a ton of difference with comparable bullets at these ranges.
I enjoy handguns and I really like shotguns,...but I love rifles!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,286
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,286 |
.308 Winchester running 165's
.308's are usually goofy accurate. My thoughts to a T.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
179 members (280shooter, 1OntarioJim, 257 roberts, 222Sako, 2500HD, 19 invisible),
1,628
guests, and
934
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,372
Posts18,488,335
Members73,970
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|